Continuous casting adjustable roller spray apron



H. LEMPER Aug. 30, 1966 CONTINUOUS CASTING ADJUSTABLE ROLLER SPRAY APRON Fil ed Feb. 19, 1964 '2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR g Herberr Lem er H. LEMPER Aug. 30, 1966 CONTINUOUS CASTING ADJUSTABLE ROLLER SPRAY APRON Filed Feb. 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 90 w w w ymw n V @5 m Q J M i i ll- 1% i I :5 a I]; M

lNVENTORi Herberf Lem er P 5% United States Patent 0 3,268,956 CQNTKNUQUS CASTENG ADJUSTABLE RULLER SPRAY AIRON Herbert Leinper, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignor to Mesta Machine Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania lFiied Feb. 19, 1964, @er. No. 345,935 4 Claims. (Cl. 22-57.2)

This invention relates broadly to roller spray aprons used in continuous casting machines and more particularly to a roller spray apron which is fully adjustable as to width and thickness of the continuously cast product so that a multitude of different sized slab cross sections are selectively available.

Roller spray aprons are used in continuous casting machines to provide restraining forces to all sides of the continuously cast product and to avoid bulging and breakout while the product is being cooled and solidified by spraying. I-Ieretofore roller spray aprons have been made in four individual sections to contain the four sides involved in a continuously cast product such as slabs, there being two wider roller bank sections for the width of the slab strip and the two narrower roller bank sections for the thickness of the slab strip. The four sections are arranged to form a rectangular passageway or channel through which the slab being cast passes and is contained thereby. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the rectangular passageway must be the exact size of the slab being run to properly contain it and, therefore, the roller banks must be adjusted according to the size of the slab being cast. It will be further understood that when speaking of size in this specification, I am referring to the width and thickness of the slab being cast and not the length which, of course, for present purposes, is continuous. In order to adjust the roller banks to accommodate a different sized slab than that they were set up for, and also in compensating for mold and roller wear, it was heretofore the practice to have each roller bank capable of two-directional movements, i.e., the narrowside banks facing each other could individually be moved toward or away from each other, this being one-directional movement and also sideways toward or away from the plane of the broadside banks for a second directional movement; similarly, the broadside banks facing each other could individually be moved toward or away from each other and also sideways to ward or away from the plane of the narrowside banks. Thus, it was necessary to provide four, two-directional movements for existing systems. I have devised a new roller spray apron utilizing a new roller bank device having infinite variable adjustment with at the most two, two-directional movements. The savings in equipment, parts and controls is immediately apparent, and the simplicity of my two-piece design as compared with the earlier four-piece design is particularly advantageous because it permits greater rigidity than heretofore possible which results in better containment of the slabs being cast and more precise compensation for mold and roller wear with less likelihood of breakout or bulging.

I provide an adjustable roller spray apron for use in continuous casting machines comprising at least a pair of roller bank means of L-shaped cross section disposed in opposing relationship with respect to each other to form a passageway or channel of rectangular cross section for slab casting, each roller bank means having a broadside roller bank and a narrowside roller bank disposed with respect to each other such that in cross section the broadside roller bank forms the long part of the L-shape and the narrowside roller bank forms the short part of the L-shape, at least one of said roller bank means having means operable to move it with respect to the opposing roller bank means in planes coincident with the "ice planes of said broadside and narrowside roller banks such that the lineal dimensions of said rectangular cross section are selectively varied.

Preferably, each of said roller bank means has means operable to move it with respect to its opposing roller bank means in planes coincident with the planes of said broadside and narrowside roller banks.

In still another preferred embodiment of the invention, I provide that in each pair of roller bank means one of said pair has means operable to move it with respect to the opposing roller bank means in planes coincident with the planes of said broadside and narrowside roller banks and the other of said pair has means operable to move it with respect to the opposing roller bank means in a plane coincident with the plane of said broadside roller banks.

Preferably, the means operable to move the L-shaped roller bank means comprises threaded shaft members rotatably secured in supporting stand members, said roller bank means being movably disposed on and threadedly engaged with said shaft members with the plane of the broadside roller banks parallel to the shaft axes whereby when said shaft members are rotated at least one of said roller bank means moves along said shaft members in a plane coincident with the plane of the broadside roller banks, said supporting stand members being expandable and having means operable to expand and contract the length of said stand members whereby at least one of said roller bank means moves in a plane coincident with the plane of the narrowside roller banks.

I further provide as a new article of manufacture, a unitary device for use in continuous casting machines comprising a broadside roller bank of rollers arranged with parallel axes in a single plane and a narrowside roller bank of rollers arranged with parallel axes in a single plane, said roller banks being joined as a single device such that a cross section of said roller banks is L-shaped with the broadside roller bank forming the long part of the L-shape and the narrowside roller bank forming the short part of the L-shape.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary elev-ational view partly in section of my adjustable roller spray apron taken on the line II of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view partly in elevation of my roller spray apron;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my roller spray apron as viewed from the right of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIG- URE 2, I there illustrate my adjustable roller spray apron 10 having a pair of L-shaped roller banks designated generally by reference numerals 11 and 11' disposed in opposing relationship with respect to each other. A general description follows. The supporting structure is shown generally as support members 13 and 13 and it will be understood that there is general superstructure supporting the entire continuous casting machine or system that is not shown and that only a small portion of the length of the roller spray apron is being illustrated which is considered to be suflicient for the purposes of illustrating the present invention. The invention is here shown as for a fully horizontal continuous casting machine but it will be understood that it can just as well be incorporated with suitable support structure for vertical continuous casting machines and likewise for semihorizontal machines, commonly referred to as horizontal continuous casting machines, wherein the roller spray apron track is curved 90 from an initially vertical track into a final horizontal track.

Continuing with the general description, L-shaped roller bank means 11 and 11' are carried on support carriers 15 and 15', respectively, which in turn are secured at their ends to support standards 17 and 17' which are supported'on support members 13 and 13', respectively. L-shaped roller bank means 11 and 11 are identical images of each other which have been reversed to face each other so that they form a rectangular channel between them confined by roller banks 19, 19, 21 and 21 through which the continuous slab being cast passes and within which it is confined. Broadly speaking for a general understanding of the invention and without going into detail, standards 17 and 17 are expandable lengthwise and then lengthened or shortened, respectively, raise and lower carrier 15' by which means the distance between broadside roller banks 19 and 19 may be varied to suit the thickness of the slab being cast. 1

Further, L-shaped roller bank means 11 and 11' are movable transversely along their respective support carriers 15 and 15' so that the distance between narrowside roller banks 21 and 21' may be varied to suit the width of the slab being cast.

From this general description, it is clear that my roller spray apron can be adjusted readily to accommodate the width and thickness of various sized slabs being cast with only two two-directional movements instead of four as heretofore.

Continuing with a description of the invention in greater detail, L-shaped roller bank means 11 and 11' are identical as are carrier channels 15 and 15' and the means of moving the roller bank means on the carrier channels is the same for each also. Thus, I shall describe in detail the lower means 1115 and it will be understood that the upper means 1115' is an image of the same that has simply been turned around to face the lower means. Like parts in the upper means therefore carry the same reference numbers as their corresponding parts in the lower means with a prime added.

L-shaped roller bank means 11 comprises a broadside roller bank 19 and a narrowside roller bank 21. Broadside roller bank 19 is made up of a number of long and short rollers 22 and 23, respectively, supported in typical staggered arrangement on rods 24, as best shown in FIG- URE 1. As shown in FIGURE 2, the rollers are appropriately hushed for rotation on rods 24. Rods 24, in turn, are secured against rotation in suitable openings in plate 25 and block 26, both of which extend the full length of the roller bank means. A backer plate 27 extends over approximately both the length and width of the roller bank means and is secured as by welding to plate 25 and another support plate 28 which like plate 25 runs the length of the roller bank means. As shown, block 26 is secured to backer plate 27 and so too are spray nozzles 16, 16 which spray coolant on the slab being cast to solidify it, through suitable apertures or openings 18, 18 in backer plate 27. Nozzles 16, 16' and openings 18, 18' are spaced with respect to rollers such that the spray is directed between the roller rows. It will be understood that spray nozzles 16, 16 are shown diagrammatically and that there is appropriate plumbing connected thereto which is not shown. By way of further support, cross vertical plates 29 and gusset plates 30 are spaced along the length of the roller bank means to help support backer plate 27 to which they are joined. Backer plate 27 also carries pedestals 31 which centrally support rods 24. Plates 25, 28, 29 and 30 are all secured to a block-shaped carrier bar 32 which is slidably disposed in a channel 33 made up of plates 34, 35 and 36 as best shown in FIGURE 4, which are secured as by welding to posts and 40' of standards 17 and 17', respectively. Block bar 32 is divided into two sections 32a and 32b and has a bore opening 37 therethrough. A drive shaft 38 having a centrally disposed threaded portion 39 extends through opening 37 of block bar 32 and is secured in suitable openings in posts 40 and 41) of standards 17 and 17', respectively. Said openings in posts 40 and 40 being suitably hushed for the rotation of shaft 38 therein. A square nut 42 is disposed in channel 33 on threaded portion 39 of rod 38 and separates portions 32a and 32b of carrier bar 32. As illustrated, nut 42 is of sufiicient size to prevent its rotation or turning in channel 33. Drive means 43 is geared to rotate shaft 38 in either direction.

From .the foregoing, it should be clear that by rotating shaft 38, nut 42 and consequently carrier bar 32 and roller bank means 11 are caused to travel along shaft 33 in channel 33, and that the roller bank means thus may be adjusted transversely in either direction according to the direction of rotation of shaft 33 by drive means 43, and further, that the same is true for roller bank means 11' with respect to shaft 38 and drive means 43'. It should also be understood that the support and carrier means described above with respect to the roller bank means is duplicated or even multiplied according to the length and size and weight of the roller bank means and is spaced along the length of the roller bank means accordingly as dictated by operational needs. Preferably where there are two or more carriers involved with roller bank means 11 the drive means 43 for each carrier 15 thereof are geared together so that all drive shafts 38 are driven at the same speed and in the same direction. This, of course, also applies accordingly to drive means 43' of roller bank means 11'.

Continuing with the detailed description, L-shaped roller bank means 11 has a narrowside roller bank 21 which comprises rollers 44 disposed on and suitably bushed for rotation on shafts 45 disposed in and secured against rotation in block 26. As shown in FIGURE 1, rollers 44 and 44 are spaced along block 26 at longer intervals than the spacing of rollers 22-23. Note also that rollers 44 and 44 are spaced between adjacent rollers 22-23 and 2223', respectively, to accommodate the placing of shaft 45 in block 26, which might otherwise intersect the ends of rods 24 disposed therein also. Thus, the broadside roller banks 19 and 19' form the long part of the L-shape of the respective roller bank means, and the narrowside roller banks 21 and 21' form the short part of the L-shape of the respective roller bank means.

The foregoing description also demonstrates the rigidity offered by the unique L-shape of the roller bank means 11 and 11', the advantages of which have already been noted.

Proceeding with further detailed description of the invention; as earlier mention-ed, standards 17 and 17 are expandable to vary the size of the rectangular channel formed by the roller banks for slab thickness. Standards 17 and 17' are identical too and the following description of standard 17 applies as well to standard 17 with like parts havintg like reference numerals with a prime.

Standard 17 comprises a lower plate earlier designated as post 40 and an upper support plate 46. Upper plates 46, 46 carry the upper carrier channel 33' and shaft 38' like lower plates or posts 49 and 40 carry the lower carrier channel 33 and shaft 38. As best shown in FIG- URE 3, upper plates 46 and 46' have extensions or legs 47 and 47 which straddle posts 40 and 40, respectively, and are keyed thereto such as by the guides or runners 48' of post 40' (see FIGURE 1) being slidably disposed in channels 49' of legs 47. From the foregoing, it is clear that legs 47, 47' and consequently upper support plates 46, 46, can be raised and lowered with respect to posts 40, 40' along the track formed by channels 49, 49' to vary the lengths of standards 17, 17.

Although there are obviously numerous ways of raising and lowerintg the upper support plates 46 and 46', I

provide drive arms 50, 50' secured at one end by stub shafts 51, 51 secured in posts 40, 40, the opening in drive arms 50, 50' receiving stub shafts 51, 51' being suitably bushed for rotary movement therebetween, and secured at the other end to a drive shaft 52 which extends between and is secured in upper plates 46 and 46. The openings in upper plates 46 and 46 receiving the ends of drive shaft 52 have bushings 56, 56 for rotation of drive shaft 52 therein, and a drive means 53 is disposed on plate 46 to rotate shaft 52 in either direction. As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, shaft 52 passes eccentrically through bearings 54, 54 which are disposed in drive arms 50, 50', respectively.

Bearings 54-, 54- are keyed to shaft 52 so that they rotate with shaft 52, and the openings in drive arms 50, 51, in which bearings 54, 54' are disposed, are suitably bushed for rotation of bearings 54, 54' therein. Between bearings 54, 54', drive shaft 52 is encased in a tubular spacer 55 to keep said bearings properly located on shaft 52 with the bushings 56, 56 extending to such bearings to assist in this purpose also. From the above description, it is clear that by rotating shaft 52, drive arms 50, 50' are vertically moved and since posts 40, 40' are stationary, upper plates 46, 46 are caused to move up or down in channels 49, 49' with respect to posts 40, 40' to lengthen or shorten standards 17, 17. In this manner roller bank means 11 may be adjusted vertically with respect to roller bank means 11 to vary the size of the rectangular channel formed by roller banks 19, 19', 21, 21 with regard to slab thickness by a single twodirectional movement.

As earlier described with respect to the transverse drive means for slab Width, if the length of the roller bank means requires two or more drive means for adjusting for slab thickness, said drive means should be geared together or otherwise synchronized to drive the two or more shafts 52 in unison.

From all of the foregoing description, it is shown that I have invented a device wherein it is possible to adjust a roller spray apron for slab width and thickness With simply two two-directional movements and having a rigidity that permits precise adjustments for mold and roller Wear.

It is obvious too that it is not necessary that both carriers and 15 be transversely adjustable and that the adjustability of one alone would sufiice to accommodate many various slab widths and, similarly, that either or both of the upper and lower portions of standards 17, 17, could be arranged for movement to adjust to various slab thicknesses. I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein both carriers 15 and 15' are transversely adjustable and only the upper pontions of standards 17, 17' are adjustable because of the suitability of this arrangement for fully horizontal continuous casting machines.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable roller spray apron for use in continuous casting machines comprising at least a pair of roller bank means of L-shaped cross section disposed in opposing relationship Wth respect to each other to form a channel of rectangular cross section therebetween, each roller bank means having a broadside roller bank and a narrowside roller bank disposed With respect to each other such that in cross section the broadside roller bank forms the long part of the L-shape and the narrowside roller bank forms the short part of the L-shape, at least one of said roller bank means having means operable to move it with respect to the opposing roller bank means in planes coincident With the planes of said broadside and narrowside roller banks such that the lineal dimensions of said rectangular cross section are selectively varied.

2. An adjustable roller spray apron for use in continuous casting machines as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said roller bank means has means operable to move it with respect to its opposing roller bank means in planes coincident with the planes of said broadside and narrowside roller banks.

3. An adjustable roller spray apron for use in continuous casting machines as claimed in claim 1 wherein in each pair of roller bank means one of said pair has means operable to move it with respect to the opposing roller bank means in planes coincident with the planes of said broadside and narrowside roller banks and the other of said pair has means operable to move it with respect to the opposing roller bank means in a plane coincident with the plane of said broadside roller banks.

4. An adjustable roller spray apron for use in continuous casting machines as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means operable to move said L-shaped roller bank means comprises threaded shaft members rotatably secured in supporting stand members, said roller bank means being mo-vably disposed on and threaded-1y engaging said shaft members with the plane of the broadside roller banks parallel to the shaft aXes whereby when said shaft members are rotated at least one of said roller bank means moves along said shaft members in a plane coincident with the plane of the broadside roller banks, said supporting stand members being expandable and having means operable to expand and contract the length of said stand members whereby at least one of said roller bank means moves in a plane coincident With the plane of the narrowside roller banks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS:

9,673 4/1853 Hartupee and Alexander 72225 2,284,508 5/1942 Williams 2257.2

FOREIGN PATENTS 762,513 11/ 1956 Great Britain.

J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. S. ANNEAR, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE ROLLER SPRAY APRON FOR USE IN CONTINUOUS CASTING MACHINES COMPRISING AT LEAST A PAIR OF ROLLER BANK MEANS OF L-SHAPED CROSS SECTION DISPOSED IN OPPOSING RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER TO FORM A CHANNEL OF RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION THEREBETWEEN, EACH ROLLER BANK MEANS HAVING A BROADSIDE ROLLER BANK AND A NARROWSIDE ROLLER BANK DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHE SUCH THAT IN CROSS SECTION THE BROADSIDE ROLLER BANK FORMS THE LONG PART OF THE L-SHAPE AND THE NARROWSIDE ROLLER BANK FORMS THE SHORT PART OF THE L-SHAPE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLER BANK MEANS HAVING MEANS OPERABLE TO MOVE IT WITH RESPECT TO THE OPPOSING ROLLER BANK MEANS IN PLANES COINCIDENT WITH THE PLANES OF SAID BROADSIDE AND NARROWSIDE ROLLER BANKS SUCH THAT THE LINEAL DIMENSIONS OF SAID RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION ARE SELECTIVELY VARIED. 